News about electromobility & electric carsWith the prototype Zero Emission Drive Unit - Generation 1, ZEDU-1 for short - the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the automotive company HWA have developed and successfully tested a road vehicle that enables almost completely emission-free mobility.In operation, it is the most environmentally friendly road vehicle in the world, according to the DLR in a current press release.Because the electric car also largely reduces the emission of fine dust and microplastics caused by the abrasion of brakes and tires.DLR and HWA presented the prototype to the public for the first time at the end of September 2022 in Stuttgart.The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics, Labor and Tourism funded the project with six million euros.“For us, people’s health and an unpolluted environment are paramount.The ZEDU-1 project focuses on the components that have received little attention so far and are now gradually being regulated in terms of their emissions by the EU Commission through legislative measures: namely brakes and tires,” said Prof. Tjark Siefkes, Director of the DLR Institute for Vehicle Concepts in Stuttgart on the occasion of the presentation of the prototype.“With the ZEDU-1 prototype, we are showing solutions that will enable us to be on the road in the future with virtually no emissions.Our concept is highly efficient, extremely compact, suitable for everyday use and versatile.It can be transferred directly to future cars and commercial vehicles.”"I am pleased that the research project 'Zero Emission Drive Unit - Generation 1' has successfully developed a prototype that tackles particulate matter emissions as the most important causes of mobility-related environmental pollution and thus lays the foundation for almost emission-free mobility on the road in the future." , explained the Baden-Württemberg Economics Minister Dr.Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut.With the result of the research project worth six million euros, "a first-class template for our industry is now available to transfer the technologies to series production and to further significantly reduce the abrasion of future vehicles".Technologically, the project team has broken new ground: the classic disc brakes in the wheel housing no longer exist.Instead, the brake is removed from the wheel and integrated into the closed electric motor-gear unit using the innovative approach of a multi-disc brake.In combination with specially developed high-performance electronics, the braking energy can be almost completely recovered – i.e. recuperated.This makes it possible to reduce the size of the brake components to a minimum and to build the drive unit very compact.The fins are in an oil bath.The abrasion ends up in the oil, which is continuously pumped through a filter and cleaned.In addition to the mechanical multi-disk brake, the team developed an induction brake for the ZEDU-1 prototype.This induction brake works wear-free almost to a standstill and uses the power of magnetic fields to generate a braking effect.Relocating the brakes from the wheel housing to the inside of the vehicle creates space for new technological approaches to significantly reduce tire wear.The basis for this is the housing of the wheels.The closed wheel housing characteristic of the ZEDU-1 is aerodynamically designed in such a way that negative pressure is created when driving.As a result, the tire abrasion accumulates at a specific point.A fan unit in the front of the vehicle sucks up the particles there and sends them through a filter system – similar to a vacuum cleaner.Only cleaned air exits the vehicle.“ZEDU-1 is an absolute prototype.All the components in this vehicle have been newly developed, the drive in the form of an electric motor braking unit as well as the tire housing and the aerodynamically adapted components on the vehicle,” summarizes project manager Franz Philipps from the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts.In the summer of 2022, on the premises of the Boxberg test center and on the institute's own roller dynamometer, the researchers examined how well the new components of the ZEDU-1 prototype were able to reduce the emission of fine dust and microplastics under real conditions.For these tests, they worked together with colleagues from the DLR Institute of Combustion Technology.The institute is also located in Stuttgart and has modern measuring technology and a mobile measuring vehicle.Above all, this can also detect and determine fine dust down to the ultra-fine range.The analysis focused on the total amount of fine dust emissions and the size distribution of the particles.“We followed different driving profiles and driving cycles.This also included the so-called WLTC.The abbreviation stands for 'Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycles', a measurement method developed by international experts to determine emissions.We also carried out special braking maneuvers and also took emission measurements,” explains Franz Philipps.The results of the first test drives convinced the ZEDU team, says Philipps: "What we can already say is that we can completely avoid brake wear.Our measurements of tire wear have shown that we can completely avoid tire wear up to a speed of 50 kilometers per hour and reduce it by 70 to 80 percent at higher speeds.The next steps are to further develop the technology together with industry in order to be able to successfully bring it into series production.”The newest, fastest, cleanest and most modern street cleaning machine is born ;)Not even legal with the wheel housings... pure waste of time and money, this part.It is more important for car fans to find out what kind of base this car has.And I tell you: it is a Tagaz Aquila.A Russian car from a company that went bankrupt.Both go well with the times.I already have an electric and even self-propelled vacuum cleaner at home!However, it is very small and therefore only suitable for feline passengers...Elektroauto-News.net has been offering presentations of current and future electric car and hybrid car models since March 2011 and presents daily news on topics related to electric mobility and everything related to it.© 2022 All rights reserved - 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